Balaji Rao

Natural Chlorate in the Environment: Application of a New IC-ESI/MS/MS Method with a Cl18O3- Internal Standard

A new ion chromatography electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (IC-ESI/MS/MS) method has been developed for quantification and confirmation of chlorate (ClO₃⁻) in environmental samples. The method involves the electrochemical generation of isotopically labeled chlorate internal standard (Cl¹⁸O₃⁻) using ¹⁸O water (H₂¹⁸O) he standard was added to all samples prior to analysis thereby minimizing the matrix effects that are associated with common ions without the need for expensive sample pretreatments. The method detection limit (MDL) for ClO₃⁻ was 2 ng L⁻¹ for a 1 mL volume sample injection. The proposed method was successfully applied to analyze ClO₃⁻ in difficult environmental samples including soil and plant leachates. The IC-ESI/MS/MS method described here was also compared to established EPA method 317.0 for ClO₃⁻ analysis. Samples collected from a variety of environments previously shown to contain natural perchlorate (ClO₄⁻) occurrence were analyzed using the proposed method and ClO₃⁻ was found to co-occur with ClO₄⁻ at concentrations ranging from < 2 ng L⁻¹ in precipitation from Texas and Puerto Rico to >500 mg kg⁻¹ in caliche salt deposits from the Atacama Desert in Chile. Relatively low concentrations of ClO₃⁻ in some natural groundwater samples (0.1 µg L⁻¹) analyzed in this work may indicate lower stability when compared to ClO₄⁻ in the subsurface. The high concentrations ClO₃⁻ in caliches and soils (3-6 orders of magnitude greater) as compared to precipitation samples indicate that ClO₃⁻, like ClO₄⁻, may be atmospherically produced and deposited, then concentrated in dry soils, and is possibly a minor component in the biogeochemical cycle of chlorine.

Perchlorate formation by ozone oxidation of aqueous chlorine/oxy-chlorine species: role of ClxOy radicals.

The environmental occurrence of perchlorate (ClO4(-)) can be related to either natural or anthropogenic sources. Recent studies highlighted the ubiquitous occurrence of natural ClO4(-) in the environment including wet deposition in the United States. Limited studies have investigated potential mechanisms responsible for natural ClO4(-) production in the environment. These studies have neither addressed the influence of relevant reaction conditions nor have they evaluated the rates of ClO4(-) production. The purpose of this study was to determine the comparative yields and rates of ClO4(-) production from O3 mediated oxidation of Cl(-), OCl(-), ClO2(-), ClO3(-), and ClO2. The influence of reactant (O3 and ClOx(-)) concentration and pH were evaluated. The comparative rate and efficiency of ClO4(-) production is generally greater for higher oxidation states of Cl (2.7 to 0.5% for ClO2(-)/ClO2 and 0.02 to 0.005% for OCl(-)/HOCl oxidation) with the notable exception of ClO3(-) which does not react with O3. The very slow rate of ClO4(-) production from Cl(-) ( approximately 20 x 10(-9) mM min(-1)) even at elevated O3 and Cl(-) concentrations implies negligible potential for anthropogenic ClO4(-) formation in process units of water/wastewater systems that use O3 for treatment. Based on results of ClO4(-) formation from tested Cl species and available literature, we propose a potential formation pathway for ClO4(-) from Cl(-) with emphasis on the role of ClO2 and higher oxy-chlorine radicals/intermediates (e.g., Cl2O6) in its formation.

Characteristics of perchlorate formation via photodissociation of aqueous chlorite

Environmental context. Perchlorate, a well-known thyroid disruptor with both man-made and natural sources represents a major environmental problem in the United States but little information is available concerning the source of natural perchlorate. Previous research has demonstrated that perchlorate can be produced from exposure of some chlorine compounds to ultraviolet radiation, but no information was available how quickly or comparatively how much perchlorate was formed. The results of the present study can be used to evaluate the potential impact of ultraviolet processes on the overall occurrence of perchlorate in the environment. Abstract. The present study provides new and important information on perchlorate (ClO4–) formation through ultraviolet (UV) photodissociation of unbuffered chlorite (ClO2–) solutions from the standpoint of kinetics under three different wavelength regimes having maximum emissions, λe,max, at 235.7, 300 and 350 nm. ClO4– production rates and yields were in general found to be inversely related, with higher yields and lower rates at higher wavelengths, and vice versa. A simple kinetic model for ClO4– production as a function of the ClO2– first-order decay constant and starting concentration was fitted to the experimental data, resulting in the calculation of a rate constant, k2, which is a function of light-source characteristics. Further, a conceptual scheme for ClO4– formation via photochemical reactions between oxychlorine species was proposed based on the experimental results and available literature. The present study is a further step towards understanding the formation of ClO4– from the photolysis of its precursors.

Perchlorate Production by Photodecomposition of Aqueous Chlorine Solutions

Aqueous chlorine solutions (defined as chlorine solutions (Cl(2,T)) containing solely or a combination of molecular chlorine (Cl(2)), hypochlorous acid (HOCl), and hypochlorite (OCl(-))) are known to produce toxic inorganic disinfection byproduct (e.g., chlorate and chlorite) through photoactivated transformations. Recent reports of perchlorate (ClO(4)(-)) production-a well-known thyroid hormone disruptor- from stored bleach solutions indicates the presence of unexplored transformation pathway(s). The evaluation of this potential ClO(4)(-) source is important given the widespread use of aqueous chlorine as a disinfectant. In this study, we perform detailed rate analysis of ClO(4)(-) generation from aqueous chlorine under varying environmental conditions including ultraviolet (UV) light sources, intensity, solution pH, and Cl(2,T) concentrations. Our results show that ClO(4)(-) is produced upon UV exposure of aqueous chlorine solutions with yields ranging from 0.09 × 10(-3) to 9.2 × 10(-3)% for all experimental conditions. The amount of ClO(4)(-) produced depends on the starting concentrations of Cl(2,T) and ClO(3)(-), UV source wavelength, and solution pH, but it is independent of light intensity. We hypothesize a mechanistic pathway derived from known reactions of Cl(2,T) photodecomposition that involves the reaction of Cl radicals with ClO(3)(-) to produce ClO(4)(-) with calculated rate coefficient (k(ClO4-)) of (4-40) × 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) and (3-250) × 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) for UV-B/C and UV-A, respectively. The measured ClO(4)(-) concentrations for both UV-B and UV-C experiments agreed well with our model (R(2) = 0.88-0.99), except under UV-A light exposure (R(2) = 0.52-0.93), suggesting the possible involvement of additional pathways at higher wavelengths. Based on our results, phototransformation of aqueous chlorine solutions at concentrations relevant to drinking water treatment would result in ClO(4)(-) concentrations (~0.1 μg L(-1)) much below the proposed drinking water limits. The importance of the hypothesized mechanism is discussed in relation to natural ClO(4)(-) formation by atmospheric transformations.

Stable isotopic composition of perchlorate and nitrate accumulated in plants: Hydroponic experiments and field data

Natural perchlorate (ClO4-) in soil and groundwater exhibits a wide range in stable isotopic compositions (δ37Cl, δ18O, and Δ17O), indicating that ClO4- may be formed through more than one pathway and/or undergoes post-depositional isotopic alteration. Plants are known to accumulate ClO4-, but little is known about their ability to alter its isotopic composition. We examined the potential for plants to alter the isotopic composition of ClO4- in hydroponic and field experiments conducted with snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). In hydroponic studies, anion ratios indicated that ClO4- was transported from solutions into plants similarly to NO3- but preferentially to Cl- (4-fold). The ClO4- isotopic compositions of initial ClO4- reagents, final growth solutions, and aqueous extracts from plant tissues were essentially indistinguishable, indicating no significant isotope effects during ClO4- uptake or accumulation. The ClO4- isotopic composition of field-grown snap beans was also consistent with that of ClO4- in varying proportions from irrigation water and precipitation. NO3- uptake had little or no effect on NO3- isotopic compositions in hydroponic solutions. However, a large fractionation effect with an apparent ε (15N/18O) ratio of 1.05 was observed between NO3- in hydroponic solutions and leaf extracts, consistent with partial NO3- reduction during assimilation within plant tissue. We also explored the feasibility of evaluating sources of ClO4- in commercial produce, as illustrated by spinach, for which the ClO4- isotopic composition was similar to that of indigenous natural ClO4-. Our results indicate that some types of plants can accumulate and (presumably) release ClO4- to soil and groundwater without altering its isotopic characteristics. Concentrations and isotopic compositions of ClO4- and NO3- in plants may be useful for determining sources of fertilizers and sources of ClO4- in their growth environments and consequently in food supplies.